Out of Control Truck Causes Multi-Vehicle Collision & Property Damage

A total of five vehicles and a building sustained damage when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle downtown today.

At approximately 1:37 p.m. officers responded to a multi-vehicle collision in the 200 block of James Street. Preliminary investigation indicates that a man driving a recycling truck, which was carrying a full load, was traveling westbound on James Street from First Hill. For reasons yet to be determined, the driver lost control of the truck in the 200 block of James Street. He collided with an unoccupied, parked vehicle that subsequently caught fire. Two other vehicles, which were parked in front of this vehicle, were also damaged, with one of them also catching fire.

After the initial collision with the parked cars the truck driver veered left and collided with another vehicle, which was parked on the opposite side of the street. The force of the impact pushed this vehicle onto the sidewalk and both vehicles came to rest when they crashed into a building.

Fortunately no bystanders were injured in this incident. The driver of the involved truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the multiple collisions. Fire department medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

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